Metering valve control



Jun l, 1948. H. E. MALONE E,TAL

METERING VALVE CONTROIJ 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1943 INVENTORSHum-:12 F.PlA1 nNE .|:LAR ENEE HTRAVER J42; MM ATTORNEYS H. E. MALONEETAL June l, I948.

METERING vALv'E CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1943 INVENTORSHUMER E. MALUNE- Q CLARENCE HTRAVER Jafi IVE/wk ATTORNEYS Patented June1, 1948 *YU NITEB raram' 'QFFFIEE ME'IERING VALVE GONTROL -Home1' E..Malone-and Clarence H.- Traver, .-Mil- 1 -waukee,Wis., assignors toPerfex Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.; a'corporation of Wisconsin.azApplicationAprilizfi, 194$,Seria1 No. 484,536

Thisinven-tion' relates in general to-control devices :and moreparticularly to :devices for controlling the. flowf: oil to vaporizationtype -oi1 burners. In devices of this type it is customary *toprovide aconstant level" chamber-in which a constantzoil level is' ma-intained byafloat-controlled inletvalvep From'this chamber the oil is passedthrougha meteri-ng valve =from whichit --fiows toathe burner. ..-In. v burnersof the character mentioneditiis-usually desirable to' main- I tain .a[small pilot: flamedur-ing times when heat isnot" required in i ordert-to :make relighting-of the burner unnecessary. The oil :metering valvemust therefore be capable-of accurately metering the oil to the burnerfrom-. a relatively. large flow which provides .fhigh-fireWinthe-burner,

down-to a very minute flow :for providingpilot flame. in the past,metering valves of this class have wonsisted of a :hollow: stem valve.member which fslides within a valve ,"port, the metering :being achievedvby varying the-length ,otwa irestricted-annular passage between thevalve :mem-

ber: andr'port: ,by raising :or lowering -:the valve memb'er. "awhilethis =type--ot meterin valve-has been satisfactory; it" requiresmanufacture of the valve member and/seat: within very clbsetoler-'anc';es to bbtain satisfactory-sand consistent results.

" It is an 'dbje'ctof this invention tosprovidea metering valveconstructionwhich: is "simplesand positivein operation and e'asy tomanufacture.

in th'e p'resent invention' thisobjeCt -isachieved *by-"the use-of arotary valve member-Which "covers a valve'port-betwe'en the constant-Ievel chamber and-outlet cha'mb'erof: a fioatfvalve,

complete-floatvalve embodying. the novel metering- .ivalve -.control-.ofthisv invention;

2% is aztop view-of-Fig, 1--with,-a- -portionbof the cover andmeteringvalve broken .away :to

show the metering valve construction a on rl-ine -2'2 :of-Fig.-1;

Fig. 3 is. a view similarvto -Eig. 2 but. takenzon -linee3-3 -of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view partly broken awaytdshow the thermostatic actuatormechanism;

5-is -a-. fragmentary .view similar otolrlifig. 1

but, showing a. modification;

Figs 6 is a view; of-- the metering .yalve assembly' taken online 6+5of. Fig; 5;

r 7 is a ifragme'ntary ise'ctionalflelevation :showing anothertiormofithe. invention;

v Fig.3 isa section taken .onaline 88goirFigil7;

Skis avsectional elevation of another jm'o'dification rand NEig; 9.

rotation of the-valve member varying'the amount of the valveport-"covered and hence varying the flow.

Aiurthenobject'of the-invention is theprovision of a novel rotary'actuatingmeans for a "metering valve.

and is :provided *with a portion through which "the'valve stem2B-extends;this serving as a'guide .r Referringtd'Fig.Lreferencev'charact'er findicates generally afloat valvelcasinghavih'ga'filter chamber 2, a float ch'ainbIerLB, and. an outlet chamber4i ZTheIfilterchambeiTZ and float chamber l3- are-separated by ahorizontal partition 5. The filter t chamber isprovided withxan oil.inlet.B. and contains an elongated L'filtert r'of usuallconstruction;thisfilter being received in a-plug';8 whichcloses'the open end of thischamber.

Z'Ihe float. or .constant lever chamber 3 .contains an iopenflfioat l0attached to a float lever ll which rocks ionv a fixed pivot. |2"whi'chextends from side .Jto'si'de "of "the zfloat chamber. .The

i right hand endjofthe'iioat lever extendsfui'ncler a 'flange 13 on a.valve: member 'assemb'ly'fl .whichfl cooperates with .an inlet valveport 15 formed; in a-valvefitting'il 6; This valve member assemblyconsists of 'an outer sleeve I I which is held in fixed J but,zyieldable" relationship" with ya valve; member l8by means of a" strainrelease spring located insidethe sleeve. 'Thevalve member I8 is rigidlyattached to a-valvestem-=20 which-extends'through"and "beyond-the end ofthe sleeve l I. This valve stem :is arranged for direct :actuation bya-safety "shut-off lever 2! which is pivoted to a' pin 22whichis-receivedin a slot 23 of a bracket imember ZA. Thisbr-acketmember extendsfrom side to side of the casing for the :upper end-"ofthevalve member. The

.freeend-bfthe safety lever-2 I" is attached by a pivot pin F25"carried'by "the float lever -l l. 'I he float serves to position thevalve member assembly l4 so as to maintain a substantially constant oillevel in the float chamber 3. Thus if the level begins falling, thefloat l0 will lower which will raise valve [4 from its seat and increasethe flow of oil into the chamber. Conversely, if the level beginsrising, the float rises for permitting the valve member assembly tolower by its own weight and reduce the flow of oil into the chamber.

If the inlet valve should fail to hold properly, the oil level inchamber 3 will begin rising, which will cause the float to rise againsta stop 28 which is attached to cover plate 29 of the float valve casing.Further rise in oil level will cause the oil to overflow through anopening 30 46 therefore is not required to be accurately aligned withthe valve port. The valve member is caused to rotate with shaft 43 bymeans of a key 44a (Fig. 2) which extends through the shaft and fitsinto a slot 44b formed in the upper part of the valve member. The crossmember 46 is provided with downwardly extending bracket portions 5| and52 which carry stop screws 53 and 54. These stop screws 00- operate witha stop member 56 which extends through the lower end of an elongatedslot 51 formed in the shaft 43. The stop screw 54 cooperates with thestop member 56 in limiting into the float, thereby causing the float tosink in the oil. Initial sinking movement of the float will rise thevalve member assembly l4 from its seat for providing maximum flow toflush off the valve surfaces. As the float continues to sink the safetylever 2| will be moved downwardly, causing the screw 3| to abut againstthe valve stem and force the valve closed. The valve will now remainclosed until the float is emptied. This is done by removing the cover 29and pivot pin I2, this permitting the float and levers to be removedfrom the casing so that the float may be emptied.

The above described float controlled inlet valve is described in greaterdetail and is claimed in the co-pending application of Homer E. Malone,Serial No. 484,535, flied April 26, 1943, now Patent 2,400,560, grantedMay 21, 1946.

The outlet chamber 4 is separated from the float chamber by means of apartition 35. Pressed into the float valve casting is a metering valveport insert 36, which is formed with a metering valve port 31. Oil flowsfrom the float chamber 3 through a passage 38, through the valve port 31into the outlet chamber 4, from which it flows either through an outlet40 or an outlet 4| to the burner.

The valve insert is formed with a central open- .ing which receives areduced extension 42 of a metering valve stem or shaft 43. Looselymounted on the shaft portion 42 is avalve member 44 which is arranged tocover or uncover the valve port 31 upon rotation of the shaft 43. Theshaft 43 is preferably of massive construction so that its weight servesto hold the valve member tightly against the flat face of the valveinsert. It will be noted that the portion of the valve member whichrests against the insert is flat or coincides with the surface of theinsert. These surfaces are ground to fit each other closely so as toprovide a fluid-tight seal. While it is preferable that the coincidingsurfaces of the valve member and valve insert be flat, this is notnecessary, and if desired the surfaces may be curved. The surfaces,however, should fit with precision so as to avoid leakage under thevalve member.

The rotary valve shaft 43 extends upwardly through the outlet chamberand through an opening 45 in the cover plate 29. The upper portion ofthe shaft 43 is guided by means of a cross member 46 which extends fromside to side of the casing and which is held in place by screws 41 and48 (Fig. 3) which are received in bosses 49 and 50 (Fig. 2) formed onthe side walls. Due to the loose or floating fit of the valve member onthe shaft, the ,valve member will always be aligned on the valve seatdue to the weight of the valve shaft. The cross or guide membercounter-clockwise rotation of shaft 43 as seen in Fig. '3. An inspectionof Fig. 2 will show that this limits opening movement of the valvemember. The stop screw 54 thus determines the maximum amount of oilwhich will pass through the metering valve and thus forms a high fireadjustment for the burner. The stop screw 53 cooperates with the stopmember 56 in limiting clockwise rotation of the valve shaft as seen inFig. 3, and thus forms a low fire or pilot flame adjustment.

The valve shaft 43 is preferably provided with a shoulder 60 beneath thecross member 46, this arrangement preventing removal of the valve shaftand member without removing the cross member 46. Surrounding the valveshaft is a spiral spring 6|. The upper end of the spring is anchored inthe cross member 46 and the opposite end is held by the stop member 56.This arrangement biases the shaft in a clockwise direction as seen inFig. 3, and thus normally maintains the stop member 56 in engagementwith the low fire adjustment screw 53.

Located on the top of the cover plate 25 is a thermostatic elementhousing 65. This housing is'secured to the cover plate by screws 66. Thehousing is formed with a boss 68, upon which is mounted an L-shapedbracket 63, screws 10 serving to hold this bracket in place. Riveted tothe bracket 69 is a bimetallic strip II. This thermostatic element liesin a substantially vertical plane and extends generally horizontallyacross the top of the casing. The free end of the element II is securedto an actuating member 12 which is arranged for engagement with a crankarm 14. This crank arm is secured to the upper portion of the valveshaft by means of a set screw 15 which is threaded into the left handpart of the split section and which abuts the right hand part thereof Itwill be apparent that this set screw spreads apart the two parts of thesplit section and thus holds the crank arm 14 tightly. The bimetallicelement H is provided with an electric heating element 11. This elementis connected by leads 18 and 16 to terminals '80 and 8| secured to theupper surface of the housing 65. When the electric heating element H isdeenergized the bimetallic element H warps counter-clockwise, as seen inFig. 4, which permits clockwise rotation of the valve shaft 53 by thespring 6! until the stop member 56 engages the low fire adjustment screw53. Thus when the electric heater is deenergized the bimetallic elementH permits rotation of the valve member against its low fire adjustmentfor providing an oil flow just sufficient to maintain a pilot flameinthe burner. When the electric heater is energized, the element 11 warpsclockwise as seen in Fig. 4, this causing counterclockwise rotation ofthe shaft 43 against the action of the spring 6| until the stop member56 comes into engagement with the high flre adjusting screw--54;Energization of the electric heater" therefore increases the oil supply;to the burnerso asto operate the burner at high-flame.

It willbe observed that by-removing thesorews 8-3;whichhold the coverplate 29in place, the coverplate, housing and bimetallic element may be,removed as; a unit. This removal is permittedby the opening 45' in thecover plate which clears the' crank arm M Due to the arrang ementinwhich the member 72 merely abuts the crank arm M; there is no connectionbetween these elements totake apart, and consequently the entire coverassembly is readily removable for re-setting the inlet valve, mechanism.

It shouldbe noted that-the metering valve assembly may be assembled as aunit and then inserteddn place within the outlet chamber ll Thisarrangement also may be readily removed foranynecessary attention byremoving the screws-41 and 48- which-hold thecross member 4am place.

In Figs. 1- and 2-tl1e metering valve member is shown as beingcircular-inshape and eccentrioally mountedon the shaftportion 62. Figs.5- and fi show amodified-form. Inthese figures the valveportconsistsof-an elongated slot 85 formed in the insert 86. The valvemember,-instead of being-fully circular; is cut away at 87, thiscut-away portion serving to uncover the valve port as the valve memberis rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

Figs. '7 and 8 show the same type of valve member as shown in Figs. 5and 6. However in this embodiment of the invention the elongated valveport 83 is formed in a flat plate 89 which is secured to the valve bodyby screws 90. This makes the plate 89v readily removable and permitsplates having different sizes of valve ports to be substituted so astoobtain whatever rating desired.

In the embodiments of the invention thus far described the oil flowsupwardly through the valve port into the outlet chamber. The inventionis also applicable to arrangements in which the oil flows downwardlyfrom the fioat chamber into the oil line leading to the burner. Oneembodiment of this type is shown in Figs, 9 and 10. In this figure thedam 93 does not extend above the normal oil level, and thus oil from thefloat chamber flows directly into the chamber 94. This chamber 94 isseparated from an outlet passage 95 by means of a metering valve insert96 which is provided with a metering valve port 91. The metering valveinsert is also provided with a hollow upwardly extending cylindricalprojection 98. This projection serves as a pivot for an eccentric valvemember I00. This valve member is provided with a vent passage NH whichopens through the side of the member above the oil level. Thisarrangement permits air in the oil line to the burner to pass upwardlyto atmosphere, and thus avoids airbinding of the oil line. The valvemember I may be actuated in the same manner as in the embodiments of theinvention previously described.

While the valve stem is preferably actuated by the bimetallic element Hfor providing automatic control, the invention is not limited to anactuator of this type. In many cases it will be desirable to omit thethermostatic actuator and to substitute a manually adjustable handle orknob in place of the crank arm 74.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a 6:. simpleand dependablemetering valve mech' anismwhich will-"accurately: meter thenew of oil to a burner. It willalso-beapparentkthat this invention providesfor automatic: control andat the same time renders' the-fi'oat valve: cover easily removablesouthatthe valve mechanismmay'be adjusted or re-set. It will furthen beapparent that thei'nvention providesfor quick-- assembling ordisassemblingof the. meteringvalve mechanism. While several embodiments:of the invention have-beers illustrated; other modifications'whicharewithin the scope ofi tlie invention Willi be obvious to those skilledin the art. It is therefore desiredto --be limit'e'cb only by the scopeof the append'ediclaims.

l. Ina control devicefor -metering the flow of oil t'oaa burner, acasing-providing a constant levelchamber and an outl'et chamber,means-in eluding. a horizontal partition locate'd beneath the normal oillevel for separating. the constant: level chamberfromtheoutletchamber;said par titionbeing formed to -provide ametering=-.-valveport, ametering valve membercooperating witn said port, a rotatable-meteringvalve shaft ex tending upwardly through the casing, aa-cross memberextending across the'upper portion'of the easing and having a guideopening throughwhich the shafteXtends, astopelement projectingzlaterally from the shaft, a stop element carried by said cross member forcooperating with said first mentioned stop element in limiting rotationof said shaft, and a spring surrounding the valve stem for biasingrotation of said shaft in one direction, one end of the spring beingattached to the shaft and the other end being attached to said crossmember.

2. In a control device Lfor metering the flow of oil to a burner, acasing providing a constant level chamber and an outlet chamber, meansincluding a horizontal partition located beneath the normal oil levelfor separating the constant level chamber from the outlet chamber, saidpartion being formed to provide a metering valve port, a metering valvemember cooperating with said port, a rotatable metering valve shaftextending upwardly through the casing, a cross member extending acrossthe upper portion of the casing and having a guide opening through whichthe shaft extends, a spring surrounding the valve stem for biasingrotation of said shaft in one direction, one end of the spring beingattached to the shaft and the other end being attached to said crossmember, and stop means for limiting rotation of the shaft by saidspring.

3. In a control device for metering the flow of oil to a burner, acasing providing a constant level chamber and an outlet chamber, aremovable cover for said casing, means including a horizontal partitionlocated beneath the normal oil level for separating the constant levelchamber from the outlet chamber, said partition being formed to providea metering valve port, a metering valve member cooperating with saidport, a rotatable metering valve shaft extending upwardly through thecasing, a spring for biasing rotation of said shaft in one direction,stop means for limiting rotation of said shaft by said spring, a crankarm on the shaft, an elongated thermostatic strip mounted on the coverand removable therewith as a unit, said thermostatic strip beingdisposed in a generally vertical plane and extending generallyhorizontally across said cover and having its free end in abuttingrelationship with said crank so that warping of said.

element causes rotation of said crank, and electric heating means forsaid thermostatic element.

4. In a control device for metering the flow of oil to a burner, acasing providing a constant level chamber and an outlet chamber, meansincluding a horizontal partition located beneath the normal oil levelfor separating the constant level chamber from the outlet chamber, saidpartition being formed to provide a metering port and having a precisionsurface adjacent said port extending generally laterally thereof, avalve member having a precision surface coinciding with the precisionsurface of said partition and arranged to rotate on the partition tocover and uncover the valve port, a valve actuating shaft extendingupwardly through the casing for rotating the valve member, a crossmember extending across the upper portion of said casing and having aguide opening through which the shaft extends, a stop element projectinglaterally from both sides of the shaft adjacent the cross memher, a pairof adjustable stops carried by the cross member, one stop being at oneside of the shaft and limiting rotation of the shaft in one directionand the other stop being at the other side of the shaft and limitingrotation of the shaft in the opposite direction, a cover for the casingthrough which the shaft extends, a spring for biasing rotation of theshaft in one direction, a

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,549 Hubbard Sept 3, 19401,026,608 Schorn May 14, 1912 1,363,620 Sellman Dec. 28, 1920 1,471,991White Oct. 23, 1923 1,797,113 Whatmough et a1. Mar. 17, 1931 1,806,530Giesler May 19, 1931 2,080,272 I-Iollman May 11, 1937 2,219,473 DelaneyOct. 29, 1940 2,244,088 Stroud -1 June 3, 1941 2,273,205 Kommer et a1Feb. 17, 1942 2,279,066 Sears Aug. 7, 1942

